Safety crossing for highway and trackway intersections



c. BURNETT SAFETY CROSSING FOR HIGHWAY AND TRACKWAY INTERSECTIONS Nov. 24, 1-931.

Filed Aug. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Shed 1 I glwwznlio o CHARLEY BURNETT c. BURNETT 1,833,354 SAFETY CROSSING FOR HIGHWAY AND TRAGKWAY INTERSECTIONS 3 Nov. 24, 1931.

Filed Aug. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwue/nt a CHARLEY BURNETT Patented Nov. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES VGHARLEYV BURNETT, or; WASHINGTON o. '11., OHiO SAFETY CROSSING FOR HIGHWAY TRAGKWAY INTERSECTIONS Application filed August 15, 1930. Seria1N0.4=75,475.

This invention relatesto improvements in safety track crossings and the object of the invention resides in the provision of a crossing wherein provision is made for controlling 5 the tractive effort of motor vehicles particularly when such vehicles approach the proximity of tracks over which pass high'speed rolling stock, whereby when the tracks are clear or open the crossing will admit of substantially the normal passagev of vehicular traflic over the protected tracks but in the event of the presence of rolling stock within a predetermined distance of the crossing, the latter will function automatically to def prive vehicles engaged therewith of their effective tractive efforts to the end of bringing such vehicles to a complete stand still before reaching the trackway. 1 7

It is another object of the invention topro: vide a safety'crossing which consists of a frame structure adapted to be" arranged in a roadway on one or more sides of an intersecting trackway and wherein the frame is provided with a plurality of horizontally j ournalled parallel rolls which extend trans versely of the frame structure and which constitute that portion of the crossing with which the wheels of passing vehicles are disposed to engage, provision being made-for maintaining the rolls normally against .ro tation in said frame to'permit the vehicles to pass thereover whenthe trackway is clear without difficulty, together with cooperating means for releasing the rolls so that lateral frictional engagement of the wheels of vehicles will be permitted to revolve in one di% rection, whereby the wheels engage with movable surfaces to deprive the sameofforwardly moving tractive effort, the locking and unlocking of the rolls being eflected automatically by the passage of rolling stock and associated circuit means over the trackway.

It is a further object of the invention to provide the crossing with resilient braking means for checking the momentum or veloc other different structural forms; U

ity of motor vehicles arranged on the crossing when the rolls are released so that continued forwardmovement of vehicles onthe crossing will be gradually yet positively checked before the vehicles reach the track- Waw o I Rt isanother object ofthe invention to pro- .vide a safety crossing of relatively-simple,- practical and inexpensive construction which may be used admirably in protecting minor railroad crossings andespecially' in locations where the degree of road traffic does not justify the expense of building standard grade crossings or'bridges, although of course the invention is not limited to any particular class of crossing and may be employed in any capacity where it may be used advantageously either for protectingrailroad crossings or other classes of ways, such as through highways for motor vehicle traffic or in connection with conveying apparatus. a I For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be hadfto the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein there isset forth indetail the single embodiment of the invention from which the operating features of the invention will bereadily understood although the invention is capable of being embodied in many In the accompanying drawings: F'g. 1 is a perspective View of a trackway provided as a safety crossing comprising the invention; i

Fig. 2 is a vertical; transverse sectional view taken through the crossingon the plane 7 indicated by the line 2-2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal sectional view f Y on'th'e plane disclosed on theline 3'3,of Fig. 2, illustratingone set of ratchets and pawls for holding the main rolls of the crossing against rotation in one direction;v

Fig. 4: is a similar view disclosing the other set of ratchets and pawls for retaining the vrolls against rotation in the opposite direc- V "outside diameter of for example six inches the releasing pawls Fig. 5 is also a vertical longitudinal sec tional view taken through the rolls in'the associated vehicle braking means, the several operatlng posltlons of the brakmg means being set forth in full and in broken lines;

Fig. 6 isa detail transverse sectional view disclosing the means taken on the plane 1ndicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view on the line 77 of Fig. 2 showing the center supports for the main rolls;

Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 2 disclosing the anti-friction bearings for the support of the main rolls;- j

Fig. 9 is a detail horizontal sectional vlew taken on the plane indicatedby the line 9-9 of Fig. 5, and showing the mounting for the braking rods as provided in conjunction 'with the main rolls;

Fig. 10 is avertic'al transverse sectional view taken through the operating shaft of the crossing;

I Fig. llisa vertical sectional view on the plane disclosed by the line 11-11 of Fig. 10 and illustrating one of the solenoids for governing the control of the operating shaft;

Fig.12 is a vertical section on the line 12-12of-Fig. 10; and i Fig. 13 is a similar view on the line 1313 of Fig, 10.

Referring'more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a railroad trackway and which is provided with the safety vehicular crossing 2 comprising the presentinvention. The crossing 2 consists of a pair of parallel longitudinally extending transversely'spaced' frame members 33 which are preferably arranged on a concrete base 4 provided in conjunction with a vehicular roadway or highway 5, the frame members-33 being arranged so as to extend longitudinallyjof the highway on opposite sides of the latter at positions where the highway intersects the trackway 1.

J'ournalled'in longitudinally spaced roller bearings 6 carried by the frame members 3 3 are a plurality of parallel transverselyextending longitudinally spaced main rolls 7.

These rolls occupy a substantially horizontal plane and constitute the wheel engaging surfaces of the roadway 5 at points adjacent the trackway. It will be "understood that the frames 33 may be of any desiredlength, depending upon the character of the road- ;way, the amount of vehicular travel thereover and the speed at which vehicular traflic operates. Thus the frames 3.3 may each be of of course is subject to modification depending upon circumstances. Rolls'7'are preferably formed from mild steel and may possess an provide traction surfaces suitable for the movement of vehicles without discomfort at safe rates of speed and will not injure the Vehicles even though the latter may pass over the rolls at rates of speed excessive upon public highways. Between the frames 3, the

rolls may be supported by one or more ap- .propriately spaced intermediate supports which may consist, as shown in Fig. 7, of

brackets .8 mounted on theconcrete base 4.

Journaled in brackets 8 are spaced rollers 9 which function to support the intermediate portion of the rolls to relieve the latter of the rolls 7 at one end with a'sleeve lO'formed at opposite ends to include spaced inner-and outer ratchet wheels 11 and'12 respectively, the teeth of which wheels being of relatively reversed order. Pins or keys 14 extend through each of the sleeves 10 to lock the latter for rotation in connection with each of the rolls 7. The outer ratchets 12 and mounted for rotation adjacent to an outer lon gitudinally extending stationary frame member 15which is spaced from one of the frame (1 members 3. A metallic cover 16 unites the upper edges of the frame member 15 with the adjacent frame member 3 so as to protect and conceal the mechanism arranged therebetwee 3mg a Pivotally carried by the inner vertical wall of the frame member 15 are pawls 17 which engage with th'e'teeth of the outer r'atchets "12 to prevent rotation of the rolls 7 in the direction indicated by the arrows at 111.F1g.'3,

while pivotally carried as at 18 on'one of the frame 'members' 3 disposed adjacent to the 7 frame member 15 are releasable pawls 19 which cooperate with teeth of the ratchets 11 to prevent rotation of the'rolls normally in'the direction indicated-by the arrows 5, shown in Fig. 4. Therefore, due to the provision of=thedouble ratchets and the double set of pawls, the rolls 7 cannot rotate in either 7 I direction under normal conditions of opera tion of the crossing. However, upon the presence of a tra n or other vehlcle ma predeterminedzone or block withinthe immediate vicinity of the crossing an automatic Q mechanism operates to move the pawls 19"to prevented by the pawls 17 The release of the pawls 19 is such, however, as to permitthe rolls 7 to rotate freely by engagement or frictional contact with the drive wheels of motor vehicles passing over the crossing towards the trackway L This release of the rolls, therefore, causes the'motorvehicles to lose their efiective tractive power, since the rolls 7 spin freely in'their antifriction bearings and in this manner the forward movement of the motor vehicles toward the .trackway is prevented. After a train passes the crossing'the pawls 19 return to their normal positions again locking the rolls 7 against rotation. i

In order to automatically release the pawls 19, the frames 33, adjacent the trackway 1, are provided with a transversely journalled operating shaft 20 mounted for free rotation in roller bearings 21 carried by theframes 8. The opposite ends of the shaft 20 are equipped with gears 22, the teeth of which mesh with rack teeth provided upon solenoid armatures 24. These armatures slidably cooperate with large heavy duty solenoids 25 suitably positioned in a housing 26 at the track endof the crossing. The fields 27 of these solenoids are connected with leads 28 which extend to the tracks of the trackway 1 and to a source of electrical energy 29. The trackway 1 includes, adjacent to the crossing, an insulated block or zone 30, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 11 and the operation of this block is such that when a wheeled vehicle enters the block, the circuits controlling the excitation of the fields 27 are closed, thereby attracting the armatures 24 and moving the latter inwardly of the solenoids. This results in partial rotation of operating shaft 20 through the medium of the. gears 22. The operating shaft is provided at one end, as indicated in Fig. 12, with a crank arm 31, formed with a pin 32, and this pin is arranged in the path of an up-turned finger 33 provided upon one end of a movable bar 34 which is pivotally carried as at35 by the lower ends of the pawls 19. Thus after some degree of rotation of the operating shaft from its normal position, shown in Fig. 12, the bar 34 is engaged and'the pawls 19 are rocked about their pivots 18 to release the ratchets 11 and to automatically provide for the rotation of the main rolls 7 in the single direction specified. It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the employment of any: particular typeof electrical apparatus for efiecting the automatic operation of the shaft 20. Solenoids have been selected herein for convenience and simplicity in illustration and description although it will be understood that other equivalent apparatus such sis electrical mo-' tors and gearing or' even mechanical appliances may be used for imparting. a slight degree of rotative movement-,usually less than 90 degrees, to the shaft 20,and Itherefore reserve the right to employ or substitute any desired operative'means for automatically rotating the shaft 20 when a tram enters .a

given Zone around the crossing.

In the preferred form of my nvent on, I employ means for arresting or. yleldably checking the advance of road vehicles toward 2 the trackwaywhen such vehicles engage the crossing .either before or. after the rolls 7 are released. This is accomplished in a practical form of the invention by providing the rolls 7 between the frames 3-3 with brackets 36 having hub portions :37 which surrounds the rolls 7 and turn freely with respect thereto about the axes of said rolls. This free turning movement is best effected by providing the hubs 37 with internal roller bearings 38 as shown in 2. The brackets 36 on each roll are provided with extensions 39 and 40. The extensions 39, as shown inFig. 9, include inturned studs 41, which are positioned in the open ends of tubes or rods 42. These rods are of lesser diameter than the main rolls 7 and, as shown in Fig. 3 in full lines, the said rods, when the rolls 7 are locked, are located in horizontal planes be low the horizontal planedefining the tops or f upper surfaces of the rolls 7. In other words, the rods 42occupy positions where they do not interfere with the forward travel of road vehicles over the crossing. ,The downward swinging movement of the brackets 36 and the rods 42 islimited by the engagement of the lower extensions 40 with fixed studs 43 carried by the innerswalls of the framesg.

These studs orstops may of course be adjustable to control the degree of downward mo ve ment of the rods 42 toward their inactive positions. Similarly, corresponding studs or stops 44 are provided in conjunction with the frames 3 for arresting the upward turn disclosed by dotted lines iii-Fig. 5,-the

which springs have their opposite ends 0311- nected with parallel bars 45' extending adacent to the frames The bars 45 are slidably mounted in guides 46 and have their forward ends, asshown in Fig. 13,,pr0vided with pivotedlinks 47, which links have their opposite ends pivotally connected as at 48 with. crank arms 49 fixed to the operating shaft 20. It will therefore be seen that when the shaft isrotated, by theoperation of the solenoids or their equivalents, the bars 4:5"vvill be moved forwardly v.to rock; the brackets their associatedarods L2 to an active position, :placing the springs 44 under tension and-positively holding the extensions such vehicles over therollsl'? toward the trackway. lVhenjthe train or other. high speed'vehicle has ;passed out of the block and the solenoids, 25 arefideenergized, the

brackets '36 and the rods 42, responding to' gravityfdrcp' back to their, lower inactive positions, moving the bars as with them as well as rotating the shaft 20 back to its normal position which, in turn, results in loweringthepawls 19 into engagement with the ratchets l1. Thestops 44 are so disposed as to preve'nt the rods 4L2 from assuming a vertical plane but. as. shown in F 5, the said rods when raised are laterally offset with respectto the vertical plane passlng through the center of the companion rolls 7;

This enables the'weight of the rods to be used in restoring the operating parts of the crossing tonormal positions.

In view of the foregoing, it will be. seen that the present invention provides a safety crossing Well suited for the purpose of protecting' railroad trackways, collisions and crossing mishaps. The mechanism employed" by the present invention is essentially a simple construction and is capable of operating under all manner of climatic conditions. The operating of the crossing is essentially automatic and therefore following its installation, l the crossing eliminates the expense of a watchman or other attendants.

What is claimed is: I

1. A safety crossing for track and other ways comprising a" stationaryframe disposed in angular relation. with respect to said Way, a plurality of rolls having the ends thereof journalled for rotation insaid frame, said rolls extending in parallel orderitransversely ofsaid frame, means normally serving to retain said rolls locked against rotation in either: direction, and automatic means for releasing said rolls to admit of their rotation in but one direction. V i

' 2. A safety railroad crossing comprising a frame structure arranged stationary in the bed of a roadway intersectingja railroad trackway and to one side offsaid trackway, a plurality of rolls extending transversely of the frame structure and having the ends thereof mounted for rotation in said frame structure, said rolls being disposed'ina'subs'tantially horizontal plane constituting-awntinuation of the tread surface of the road way,n1eans normally serving, to retain said rolls locked against rotat1on in said frame structure, and automatic means responsive to the presence of a vehicle on said trackway in the vicinity of the crossing to releasesaid rolls to admit of their rotation. a

3; A safety crossing for railroad and highway intersections comprising a frame extending longitudinally of the highway adjacent to the railroad 'trackway, a plurality of'rolls extending transversely of the frame and dis-' posed in a substantially horizontal planeecon ways, comprising a frame, aplurality of rolls extending transversely of the frame in a substantially horizontal plane and spaced longitudinally with respect to each other, antifriction bearings carried in said frame for the supportof said rolls,,.means normally serving to retain said rolls locked against rotation, and automatic means for unlocking said rolls. e Y I e c 5. A safety railroad crossing for vehicular iighways comprising a frame disposed in N the highway'adjacent to an intersecting rail road trackway, horizontally placed and long gitudinally spaced rolls extending transversely of said frame and highway, rantifriction bearings carried by said frame for effecting the rotatable support of said rolls, means for locking said rolls normally against rotation in either direction, and automatic means for releasing said rolls to permit of 7 their rotation in a single direction.

. 6. A safety railroad crossing of the character described, comprising a longitudinally extending frame, a plurality of rolls extend ing transversely of said frame and disposed in a substantiallyhorizontal plane, said rolls being relatively spaced longitudinally of the frame, antifriction bearings'carried by'said frame for supportingithe ends of said rolls,

intermediate roller supports engaging with" said rolls between said frames, means nor mally. locking each of said rolls against rotation in either direction in said bearinga an'd automatic means for releasing said rolls to permit of their rotation in but a single predetermined direction; r

7. A safety railroad crossing comprising a frame consisting of transversely spaced longitudinally extending members stationarily positioned in "a verticalroadway ad a plurality of parallel longitudinally spaced rolls positioned for rotation in said frame and extending transversely of the latter, ratchets fixed to rotate with each of said rolls, the ratchets on each roll being provided with reversely disposed teeth, movable pawls engageable with said ratchets and normally serving to lock said rolls against rotation, and automatic means cooperative with one set of said pawls for removing the latter from engagement with their cooperative ratchets automatically upon the presence of a vehicle on the trackway adjacent to the crossing. V

8. A railroad crossing of the character set forth comprising a longitudinally extending frame, spaced rolls extending transversely of said frame and journalled for rotation therein, an operating shaft rotatably mounted in said frame adjacent to said rolls, pawl and ratchet mechanism cooperative with each of said rolls and normally serving to lock the latter against rotation, means operated by said shaft for moving said pawl and ratchet mechanism to positions permitting of the rotation of said rolls in but a single direction, and automatic means for imparting movement to said shaft to effect the operation of said pawl and ratchet mechanism upon the,

presence of a vehicle on the trackway in the vicinity of said crossing. 3

9. A safety crossing for highway and trackway intersections comprising a stationary framexextending longitudinally of the highway adjacent to the 'trackway, transversely extending rolls journalled in said frame, means normally serving to hold said rolls against rotation in said frame, automatic means responsive to the presence of a vehicle on said trackway in the vicinity of the highway for releasing said rolls to permit of their rotation in a single direction, and means operable when said rolls are in a rotatable condition to yield-ably retard the advance of highway vehicles over said rolls.

10. A safety crossing for trackway and highway intersections comprising a frame extending longitudinally of the highway adjacent to the trackway, longitudinally spaced rolls extending transversely of said frame in parallel horizontal order and'constituting a continuation of the tread surface of the highway, means normally locking said rolls against rotation, automatic means respon sive to the presence of a vehicle on said trackway in the vicinity of said crossing to release said rolls, and means operated by said roll releasing means for presenting yieldabl'e obstructions in the path of road vehicles passing over said rolls when the latter are in a released rotatable state. .i v I 11. A safety crossing for highway and trackway intersections comprising a frame, a plurality of rolls supported by'said frame and extending transversely thereof in a'hori zontal plane, the sa-idrolls vbeing relatively s'ponsive'toithepresenceiof a vehicle on said trackway in the vicinity ofj said'crossing t9 release Sz'LlClTOllS to admit of their rotation, and operating connections between said automatic roll releasing mechanism and said brackets fo1-sw nging thelatter and the rods 7 carried thereby to elevatedfope rating posh ftions disposedjin planes above the'horizontal plane defining the tops of said rolls. V

12. Protective mechanism for highwayand trackway intersections comprising alfram'e structure extending parallel with the high way, transverse rolls j ournalled insaid frame structure, I means normally locking said rolls against'rotation, automatic means responsive to the presence of'a vehicle" on said trackway in the vicinity of the protector to release said rolls, swinging bracketsturnable about the ends of said brackets and normally disposed so that said rolls are in a locked condition below the horizontal plane of the rolls, and

yieldable for swinging said brackets and the V rods carried thereby to positions above the horizontal. plane of said rolls when the latter are free to rotate.

13. A safety mechanism for highway and trackway intersections'comprising a frame extending longitudinallyof the highway adaxes of said rolls, rods carried by the outer jacent the trackway, spaced horizontalrolls rotatably supportedby said frame and extending transversely of the latter, pawl and ratchet mechanism cooperative with each of said rolls to normally retain the latter against rotatioman operating shaft journaled in said frame, means responsive to the presence of a vehicle on said trackway in the vicinity of said frame to partially rotate said shaft, operating connections between said shaft and said pawl and ratchet mechanism for releasing said rolls to admit of their rotation during the presence of the vehicle on the trackway, a plurality of braking rods pivotally carried by said rolls and normally disposed below the horizontal plane of said rolls when the latter are in a locked condition, and resilient connections between said rods and said operating shaft for raising said rods to an elevated position above said rolls when latter are free to rotate.

14. A safety mechanism for highway and trackway intersections comprising a frame arranged in and extending longitudinally of the highway adjacent the trackway, a plu-" rality ofrelatively spaced transversely'exthe tending rolls rotatably supported by said.

frame, pawl and ratchet mechanism cooperative. with each of said rolls for normally s 6 rises-a locking the-latter against rotation, an operaty l. a Q i U p l ingshaft journalled infconneotion with said frame,electro responsive means for partially rotating said shaft upon the presence of a 5 vehicle on said traekway within a predetermined distance of the highway, a bar movable in unison with said shaft upon the operation of said electro-responsive meansto permit of p V the rotation of said rolls, brackets arranged i V I r ing said frame and rotatable about the axes o-f'saidfrolls, rods "carried by said; brackets V and normally positioned between said rolls V below the horizontal plane definingthe top w of s'aid'rolls, asecond bar movable in' unison with said shaft, and springs connected with said second bar and with said braeketsand operable upon the release of said rolls to move said rods to elevated braking positions above the plane defining the top of said rolls.

7 Q In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. 

